Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
LOUIS XIII STYLE
Antique Louis XIII furniture is not as lavish as that of his son Louis XIV, who transformed his father’s modest Versailles hunting lodge into a sumptuous palace. Yet the imposing forms of its chairs, dressers, tables and other pieces express grandeur and luxury.
When Henry IV was assassinated in the streets of Paris in 1610, his young son became the king of France. With Louis XIII too young to rule, the widowed Marie de' Medici — a native of Italy and member of the prominent House of Medici — became regent, instilling an Italian influence in the decorative arts. Even after Louis XIII exiled his mother and took power in 1617, this aesthetic informed his court style. As did the consolidation of power, established with his chief minister, Cardinal Richelieu, through his death in 1643.
From sturdy chests and tall cupboards to colossal four-poster beds, almost every piece of Louis XIII furniture was heavily carved or turned from dark-toned wood. Motifs of the period included scrollwork, foliage, fruits, grotesque masks and other images of abundance, often inlaid in marquetry of wood or tortoiseshell. Ornamental scenes, sometimes carved on cabinet panels and other pieces from rare ebony, oak or walnut, were borrowed from engravings by northern European masters like Peter Paul Rubens. Engravings also spread the Louis XIII style during the 17th century, particularly by printmaker Abraham Bosse, who depicted the popular Louis XIII chairs designed with upholstered seats and low, wide backs.
The lofty profiles of the French furniture complemented the architecture under the reign of Louis XIII, such as the Palais du Luxembourg by chief architect Salomon de Brosse and architect Jacques Lemercier’s chapel at the Sorbonne, which showcased the influence of Italian Baroque.
Find a collection of antique Louis XIII armchairs, storage cabinets, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.
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Style: Louis XIII
Antique French Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Carved Oak Renaissance
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Sofa Table Writing Desk Barley Twist Carved Oak Renaissance.
Direct from France, a lovely antique French writing desk or sofa table in a very versatile size with beau...
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1890s French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
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Oak
Antique French Carved Secretary Petite Desk Barley Twist Walnut Bookcase
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French Carved Secretary Petite Writing Desk Barley Twist Louis XIII.
Direct from France, a beautifully appointed petite drop front walnut secretary...
Category
1890s French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Late 19th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Side Table or Writing Table
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This small scale French Louis XIII style walnut writing table or desk from the late nineteenth century is of hand pegged construction and features a beveled top. The top is supported...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Louis XIII Style Oak Barley Twist Library Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fine 19th century French carved oak library table, or writing table desk made in the grand Louis XIII taste. Features thick barley twist legs conjoined on the bottom with barley twis...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century French Oak Barley Twist Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Spectacular 19th century French bureau plat writing table or desk featuring barley twist legs and stretcher. Crafted from oak in the grand Louis XIII style fronted by a large 27 inch...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
French Walnut Desk, Side Table or Writing Table, Louis XIII
Located in Labrit, Landes
French desk or side table, made circa 1660
Massive walnut and iron handles.
Nice antique patina.
The turned legs and bars are typical of the Louis XIII style.
Legroom height and dept...
Category
17th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Iron
Antique French Louis XIII Style Draw Leaf Dining Table with Barley Twist Legs
Located in Sheffield, MA
Antique French Louis XIII style oak draw leaf extending dining table with barley twist legs. This table has been lovingly restored...
Category
1920s French Vintage Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
19th Century Barley Twist Mahogany Desk Console or Library Table by Imperial
Located in Southampton, NJ
A stunning 19th Century single drawer desk or library console table having turned mahogany legs and frame with outstanding grain throughout having hand carved aprons with gold detail...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
Mid-19th Century French Louis XIII Heavily Carved Oak Secretary Bookcase Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a man's office or study this this stunning Henri II two-piece antique desk cabinet. Crafted in southern France circa 1860 and built of oa...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Louis XIII Period 1630s Carved Walnut Barley Twist Table with Black Painted Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XIII period walnut writing table from circa 1630 with two lateral drawers, barley twist base, black painted top and carved X-Form cross stretcher accented with central...
Category
17th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
French Sculptural Baroque Style Desk in Stained Pine, Early 20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A fabolous french baroque style freestanding desk in solid stained pined. Finely handcrafted in the first half of the 20th century. Decorative decadent carvings.
This fine desk w...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Pine
French 19th Century Writing Table Carved Oak Desk Lion Mask Louis XIII Style
Located in Labrit, Landes
Writing table or desk Henri II (also named Louis XIII style) 19th century with lion masque drawer handle
Table height: 27.56 in. (70 cm)
Hand carved oak
R...
Category
1880s French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Mid-18th Century Spanish Louis XIII Carved Walnut Library Console Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in Spain circa 1760, the antique writing table stands on thick carved turned legs ending with bun feet, and embellished with an elegant rectangular box stretcher at the base. The tall table features two hand carved drawers...
Category
Mid-18th Century Spanish Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Louis XIII Style French Walnut Side Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Louis XIII style French side table made of solid hand-carved walnut. Elaborately detailed in a Neo Renaissance style with fine turned legs forming an arched colonnade over the cent...
Category
Early 20th Century French Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Small Spanish Table From The 17th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
superb small Spanish table from the 17th century
Table that can be used as a desk or a small table
It has a very beautiful chestnut top with a beautiful thickness of 4 cm in one piec...
Category
17th Century Spanish Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chestnut
18th Century Spanish Carved Walnut Desk Writing Table with Iron Stretcher
Located in Dallas, TX
Add an elegant focal point to your study or library with this antique Spanish desk. Carved in Spain circa 1750, the trestle table stands on two in...
Category
Mid-18th Century Spanish Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wrought Iron
18th Century French Louis XIII Style Barley Twist Desk with Green Leather Top
Located in Birmingham, AL
A fine 18th century carved French Louis XIII style bureau plat or desk handcrafted of solid oak by skilled Breton artisans, circa 1730s. The rectangular top with a gadrooned beveled ...
Category
18th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
Antique Writing Table for Library 18th Century France
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
Spectacular antique writing table from the 19th century or earlier, in Spain, with turned Solomonic-shaped legs. It is made of oak wood and has a drawer. The edge of the top and the ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Oak
18th Century French Louis XIII Style Walnut Table
Located in Madrid, ES
French walnut table in Louis XIII style, late 18th century, walnut with a single drawer from the 18th century. The legs are characteristically turned and the base is in the shape of ...
Category
Mid-18th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Spanish Baroque Marble Top Carved Walnut and Iron Dining Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a dining or breakfast room with this elegant antique table. Carved in Spain circa 1870, the large trestle table stands on two intricate ca...
Category
Mid-19th Century Spanish Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Wrought Iron
19th Century French Louis XIII Carved Barley Twist Walnut Table Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Incorporate extra, functional surface space into your living room or den with this elegant antique table. Crafted in the Perigord region of Franc...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
Mid-Century Italian Baroque Carved Walnut Secretary Chest of Drawers
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant, multi-function antique chest was created in Italy, circa 1960. Siting on bracket feet over a straight bottom plinth, the fruit wood cabinet features what appears to be three drawers with raised burled panels and dressed with iron handles and matching escutcheons across the front. The hinged top half surface raises up while the top drop-front hinged drawer folds down, and reveals a writing surface with inside theater and four small drawers over a niche gallery. The bottom section features two large functional drawers for extra storage. Both sides are also decorated with burled walnut raised panels. The narrow and versatile baroque writing table commode is in excellent condition with a rich walnut patina, and has beautiful gothic hardware...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Louis XIII Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Walnut
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19th Century Spanish Baroque Carved Bleached Walnut and Iron Writing Table Desk
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Located in Philadelphia, PA
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H 29.5 in W 48 in D 30 in
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Louis Xiii desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Louis XIII desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Louis XIII desks and writing tables made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Spain pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,200 and tops out at $9,400 while the average work can sell for $3,550.